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Essex Witch Museum Mystery #1
Strange Magic
Rosie Strange doesn't believe in ghosts or witches or magic. No, not at all. It’s no surprise therefore when she inherits the ramshackle Essex Witch Museum, her first thought is to take the money and run.
Still, the museum exerts a curious pull over Rosie. There’s the eccentric academic who bustles in to demand she help in a hunt for old bones, those of the notorious Ursula Cadence, a witch long since put to death. And there’s curator Sam Stone, a man about whom Rosie can’t decide if he’s tiresomely annoying or extremely captivating. It all adds up to looking like her plans to sell the museum might need to be delayed, just for a while.
Finding herself and Sam embroiled in a most peculiar centuries-old mystery, Rosie is quickly expelled from her comfort zone, where to her horror, the secrets of the past come with their own real, and all too present, danger as a strange magic threatens to envelope them all.
Still, the museum exerts a curious pull over Rosie. There’s the eccentric academic who bustles in to demand she help in a hunt for old bones, those of the notorious Ursula Cadence, a witch long since put to death. And there’s curator Sam Stone, a man about whom Rosie can’t decide if he’s tiresomely annoying or extremely captivating. It all adds up to looking like her plans to sell the museum might need to be delayed, just for a while.
Finding herself and Sam embroiled in a most peculiar centuries-old mystery, Rosie is quickly expelled from her comfort zone, where to her horror, the secrets of the past come with their own real, and all too present, danger as a strange magic threatens to envelope them all.
369 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 4, 2017
109 people are currently reading
3201 people want to read
About the author
Syd Moore
16 books201 followersBefore embarking on a career in education, Syd worked extensively in the publishing industry, fronting Channel 4’s book programme, Pulp. She was the founding editor of Level 4, an arts and culture magazine, and is co-creator of Super Strumps, the game that reclaims female stereotypes.
Syd has also been a go go dancer, backing singer, subbuteo maker, children’s entertainer and performance poet, She now works for Metal Culture, an arts organisation, promoting arts and cultural events and developing literature programmes.
Syd is an out and proud Essex Girl and is lucky enough to live in that county where she spends her free time excavating old myths and listening out for things that go bump in the night.
Syd has also been a go go dancer, backing singer, subbuteo maker, children’s entertainer and performance poet, She now works for Metal Culture, an arts organisation, promoting arts and cultural events and developing literature programmes.
Syd is an out and proud Essex Girl and is lucky enough to live in that county where she spends her free time excavating old myths and listening out for things that go bump in the night.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 260 reviews
August 21, 2018
After her grandfather dies Rosie inherits the Essex Witch Museum from him even though they were never close. Determined to sell it and pocket the money she heads over to check it out and have a talk with who ever is maintaining the place. While there to talk to the curator Sam she gets interrupted by Professor George Chin who wants them to find the body of a women executed in the 16th century named Ursula Cadence. Initial Rosie wants to decline to do so but then she hears of the commission and decides otherwise. At there second meeting with Professor Chin they learn of the true reasons why they are on the hunt for Ursula's bones, that is a young boy named Max seems to have been taken over by her son Thomas who wasn't heard of again after Ursula's death. Thomas's testimony may have helped to get Ursula killed and the guilt is supposed to be making the ghost of Thomas distraught, leaving Max's only chance at life being reuniting Thomas and his mother. Rosie and Sam soon head out to hunt for the bones which leads them from one place to the next as they chase the clues, the constant supernatural happenings as they go along only making them question their own beliefs.
I'm not a fan of the quintessential British mystery novel and so this one just wasn't for me. It was more on the cozy reads side rather than the thriller and I really only like mysteries that build up the suspense. I also didn't really like the writing very much, it felt oddly childish and information kept being dumped on me that didn't quite feel relevant to the plot. I also found a lot of the scenes, especially the ones where they're not searching, to feel like they were there just to fill space. The book kind of reminded me of Scooby Doo type of mystery and it didn't work for me.
I'm not a fan of the quintessential British mystery novel and so this one just wasn't for me. It was more on the cozy reads side rather than the thriller and I really only like mysteries that build up the suspense. I also didn't really like the writing very much, it felt oddly childish and information kept being dumped on me that didn't quite feel relevant to the plot. I also found a lot of the scenes, especially the ones where they're not searching, to feel like they were there just to fill space. The book kind of reminded me of Scooby Doo type of mystery and it didn't work for me.
April 20, 2017
This is a witty and entertaining beginning to the Rosie Strange series. Essex girl and Leytonstone Benefit Fraud investigator, Rosie, has inherited the Essex Witch Museum from her estranged grandfather Septimus about whom she knows little. She arrives intending to sell the place, meeting the crazy Audrey outside, Hecate the cat, and the oddly attractive curator, Sam. As with all the best laid plans, things go haywire when the well known Professor George Chin arrives, sparking a budding bromance with Sam. Chin introduces them to James Harris, the father of Max, a possessed child, and the Reverend Dr Kaspar and are shown a disturbing video of Max who appears to have been taken over by Thomas, the son of a sixteenth century witch, Ursula Cadence. They want Sam and Rosie to locate the bones of Ursula to prevent Max dying.
Sam and Rosie agree to do so, embarking on a road trip that takes in the home of Ursula, St Osyth, Boscastle, Plymouth and Whitehall. It is not easy to discover exactly where the bones are and they encounter some pretty strange phenomena. In a search that brings Rosie closer to her family history and personal identity, they find themselves close enough to get their hands on the bones, only to have them stolen. Rosie is further startled to discover the existence of the Occult Bureau within MI6 and her family connections to the unit and Monty Walker. Monty informs them of the dangerous Macka Bogovic and the notorious Elizabeth Barbary, who have nefarious plans for Ursula's bones. Sam and Rosie make their way to the ridiculous and aptly named gothic Hades Hall. Facing betrayal and the fight of their lives, Rosie is determined to keep a promise to get the bones to St Dismas Church and save Max.
I really enjoyed reading this well written and atmospheric novel. The crazy, acerbic and comic character of Rosie Strange, sceptic and wit, is both compelling and mesmerising, she easily keeps and maintains our interest. The adventures her and Sam embark on leads to an intriguing and close relationship between them. There are some wonderfully pastiche comic horror moments that I loved. An engaging and funny read. Thanks to Oneworld Publications for an ARC.
Sam and Rosie agree to do so, embarking on a road trip that takes in the home of Ursula, St Osyth, Boscastle, Plymouth and Whitehall. It is not easy to discover exactly where the bones are and they encounter some pretty strange phenomena. In a search that brings Rosie closer to her family history and personal identity, they find themselves close enough to get their hands on the bones, only to have them stolen. Rosie is further startled to discover the existence of the Occult Bureau within MI6 and her family connections to the unit and Monty Walker. Monty informs them of the dangerous Macka Bogovic and the notorious Elizabeth Barbary, who have nefarious plans for Ursula's bones. Sam and Rosie make their way to the ridiculous and aptly named gothic Hades Hall. Facing betrayal and the fight of their lives, Rosie is determined to keep a promise to get the bones to St Dismas Church and save Max.
I really enjoyed reading this well written and atmospheric novel. The crazy, acerbic and comic character of Rosie Strange, sceptic and wit, is both compelling and mesmerising, she easily keeps and maintains our interest. The adventures her and Sam embark on leads to an intriguing and close relationship between them. There are some wonderfully pastiche comic horror moments that I loved. An engaging and funny read. Thanks to Oneworld Publications for an ARC.
April 23, 2017
Strange Magic is a novel that young adults and adults a like can read and enjoy.
I loved the idea of inheriting a museum, especially one to do with witches. Sadly Rosie wants rid and to get back to her everyday life. These plans are delayed though when they end up on a mission to find the bones of a witch.
Rosie is quite a head strong character but I think she meets her match with Sam. Sam is very passionate about his work in the museum and he is determined to change Rosie’s mind as well as help her on their mission.
I have to admit when I read the description, I think because it’s to do with dark magic and witches I thought it would be darker than what it actually is. Being a horror and crime fan, I love my books quite dark. Where as this is a good read, it just wasn’t quite dark enough for me. I would certainly still recommend it for people who like a mysterious and engaging read that is more on the lighter side though.
My thanks to Cailin at Point Blank for a copy of this book. All opinions are my own and not biased in anyway.
I loved the idea of inheriting a museum, especially one to do with witches. Sadly Rosie wants rid and to get back to her everyday life. These plans are delayed though when they end up on a mission to find the bones of a witch.
Rosie is quite a head strong character but I think she meets her match with Sam. Sam is very passionate about his work in the museum and he is determined to change Rosie’s mind as well as help her on their mission.
I have to admit when I read the description, I think because it’s to do with dark magic and witches I thought it would be darker than what it actually is. Being a horror and crime fan, I love my books quite dark. Where as this is a good read, it just wasn’t quite dark enough for me. I would certainly still recommend it for people who like a mysterious and engaging read that is more on the lighter side though.
My thanks to Cailin at Point Blank for a copy of this book. All opinions are my own and not biased in anyway.
April 28, 2017
I’m a big fan of book covers, and upon seeing just the proof for Strange Magic, I knew I had to get my hands on it as I love a skull being used in a design. I’ve seen the finished product too, and it is even more beautiful!
Strange Magic focuses on Rosie Strange, who has inherited the Essex Witch Museum. Initially, her first thought is to sell it and go back to her life without a second thought. As we all know though, life is often not that simple. Upon claiming ownership, Rosie and the curator, Sam, are tasked with trying to recover the remains of a witch who had lived hundreds of years previously.
Strange Magic follows Rosie and Sam as they undertake this search, and find themselves tangled up in a centuries-old mystery surrounding Ursula Cadence. Odd things start to happen, and there is an air of prestidigitation throughout the course of the book which lends itself nicely to the story.
I think Strange Magic is a cosy mystery as opposed to a thriller, and there is nothing wrong with that. It was a welcome change of pace to my usual reads, and it was a very gentle story. The witchcraft and history were quite interesting too, as it’s not something I would have ever thought to read about.
If you like Golden Age crime novels, I think Strange Magic would definitely be a book worth putting on your list. An easy pace, suspensful and with interesting characters, it was a nice break from the norm for me.
Recommended!
Strange Magic focuses on Rosie Strange, who has inherited the Essex Witch Museum. Initially, her first thought is to sell it and go back to her life without a second thought. As we all know though, life is often not that simple. Upon claiming ownership, Rosie and the curator, Sam, are tasked with trying to recover the remains of a witch who had lived hundreds of years previously.
Strange Magic follows Rosie and Sam as they undertake this search, and find themselves tangled up in a centuries-old mystery surrounding Ursula Cadence. Odd things start to happen, and there is an air of prestidigitation throughout the course of the book which lends itself nicely to the story.
I think Strange Magic is a cosy mystery as opposed to a thriller, and there is nothing wrong with that. It was a welcome change of pace to my usual reads, and it was a very gentle story. The witchcraft and history were quite interesting too, as it’s not something I would have ever thought to read about.
If you like Golden Age crime novels, I think Strange Magic would definitely be a book worth putting on your list. An easy pace, suspensful and with interesting characters, it was a nice break from the norm for me.
Recommended!
June 4, 2017
Rating: 1/5 Stars
I might come back to do a proper review for this, but not only did I think that this book was a mess structurally, with a confused, all over the place plot, but it is sprinkled with ableism, fatphobic characterisations, and slut shaming.
This book is bad. Don't waste your time.
I might come back to do a proper review for this, but not only did I think that this book was a mess structurally, with a confused, all over the place plot, but it is sprinkled with ableism, fatphobic characterisations, and slut shaming.
This book is bad. Don't waste your time.
Read
May 11, 2018I couldn't finish this one as it's not for me :(
I love the cover! And thought witches would be interesting but this is not really what I expected and I'm not keen on the interplay between the two main characters.
They fancy each other but also wind each other up - it's a love/hate thing - I know these things happen but I just don't want to read about it.
Made it to 40% but the thought of carrying on with it was putting me off reading.
Sorry, not my cup of tea!
I love the cover! And thought witches would be interesting but this is not really what I expected and I'm not keen on the interplay between the two main characters.
They fancy each other but also wind each other up - it's a love/hate thing - I know these things happen but I just don't want to read about it.
Made it to 40% but the thought of carrying on with it was putting me off reading.
Sorry, not my cup of tea!
March 7, 2017
When I first saw this book listed on LibraryThing’s monthly giveaway, I was initially enamored by the cover art and found the urban fantasy-sounding plot intriguing. Unfortunately, I found the cover more interesting than its contents.
I felt no initial excitement upon being introduced to Rosie and the museum she inherited, nor did I care about who I assumed would be her potential love interest, and current museum curator with a passion for all things witchcraft, Sam. The two are asked to help recover the bones of a long-dead local witch who was hung, as her son appears to have taken possession of a boy who fell from a tree and the strain on the child is killing him. I didn’t find myself invested in this quest either, but at least hoped for some magic, as the title and plot summary implied.
Rosie was an adequate main character, but nothing about her personality had me rooting for her. Her relationship with Sam was puzzling, as they initially didn’t like each other and he seems to have little faith in her navigational and driving skills – he’s constantly giving her driving instructions and telling her to slow down throughout the whole book, and boy is there a lot of driving – and I didn’t find myself hoping they would get together, though it appeared Rosie did, when she wasn’t cursing Sam for being a nuisance. I know the whole, ‘you annoy me and we seem to hate each other but then actually grow to love each other’ is a common romantic trope, and I enjoy it when it’s done well. But Rosie and Sam primarily seemed to annoy each other or just be on neutral ground, with the occasional flirty scene that felt out of place and never truly culminated into any meaningful relationship.
Characters aside, the plot didn’t grab me either, though I felt it should have. They were questing after these old bones, which had been sold to various different people since they’d been accidently dug up from their original resting place. The boy was clearly exhibiting signs of possession and needed rescuing or death was imminent – yet I felt there were no stakes in this novel. Maybe it was because I knew the boy wouldn’t die – I mean, I didn’t truly know for certain, but it was a pretty safe assumption – and maybe it was because there was no actual magic happening that my interest flagged.
Mostly I was bored while reading – especially during the driving scenes; why is there so much driving!? There was a lot of historical information, which I assume is accurate, but most of it was delivered via infodumping, so I tended to skim those bits. I was expecting an urban fantasy novel with “real” magic, but Strange Magic takes a more skeptical approach and lets the reader decide whether some scenes in the book are truly magical or just strange coincidences and character belief. From my perspective the magic felt more like the product of Rosie’s hyperactive imagination and thus, I was left disappointed.
It seems like there will be a sequel to this novel, but I won’t be reading it. If you’re interested in reading about the background of some of those who were killed as witches in England and you enjoy a vague, implied sort of magic, this book may be for you. It was not what I expected however and I didn’t find anything about the characters or writing style that particularly stood out for me.
I received this book from LibraryThing in exchange for my honest review.
I felt no initial excitement upon being introduced to Rosie and the museum she inherited, nor did I care about who I assumed would be her potential love interest, and current museum curator with a passion for all things witchcraft, Sam. The two are asked to help recover the bones of a long-dead local witch who was hung, as her son appears to have taken possession of a boy who fell from a tree and the strain on the child is killing him. I didn’t find myself invested in this quest either, but at least hoped for some magic, as the title and plot summary implied.
Rosie was an adequate main character, but nothing about her personality had me rooting for her. Her relationship with Sam was puzzling, as they initially didn’t like each other and he seems to have little faith in her navigational and driving skills – he’s constantly giving her driving instructions and telling her to slow down throughout the whole book, and boy is there a lot of driving – and I didn’t find myself hoping they would get together, though it appeared Rosie did, when she wasn’t cursing Sam for being a nuisance. I know the whole, ‘you annoy me and we seem to hate each other but then actually grow to love each other’ is a common romantic trope, and I enjoy it when it’s done well. But Rosie and Sam primarily seemed to annoy each other or just be on neutral ground, with the occasional flirty scene that felt out of place and never truly culminated into any meaningful relationship.
Characters aside, the plot didn’t grab me either, though I felt it should have. They were questing after these old bones, which had been sold to various different people since they’d been accidently dug up from their original resting place. The boy was clearly exhibiting signs of possession and needed rescuing or death was imminent – yet I felt there were no stakes in this novel. Maybe it was because I knew the boy wouldn’t die – I mean, I didn’t truly know for certain, but it was a pretty safe assumption – and maybe it was because there was no actual magic happening that my interest flagged.
Mostly I was bored while reading – especially during the driving scenes; why is there so much driving!? There was a lot of historical information, which I assume is accurate, but most of it was delivered via infodumping, so I tended to skim those bits. I was expecting an urban fantasy novel with “real” magic, but Strange Magic takes a more skeptical approach and lets the reader decide whether some scenes in the book are truly magical or just strange coincidences and character belief. From my perspective the magic felt more like the product of Rosie’s hyperactive imagination and thus, I was left disappointed.
It seems like there will be a sequel to this novel, but I won’t be reading it. If you’re interested in reading about the background of some of those who were killed as witches in England and you enjoy a vague, implied sort of magic, this book may be for you. It was not what I expected however and I didn’t find anything about the characters or writing style that particularly stood out for me.
I received this book from LibraryThing in exchange for my honest review.
September 20, 2017
Not bad at all. Lots of strange and interesting characters and the author has a great sense of humor.
May 4, 2017
When Benefit Fraud investigator Rosie Strange inherits the ramshackle Essex Witch Museum her grandfather Septimus built, she plans to sell it as soon as possible. She doesn't believe in witches and magic, and she's taking a few days off work to get the place in order before she calls the estate agents. Still, she can't help but see the potential in the place, and in the curator, Sam Stone. He's brilliant and sexy, but prickly and annoying.
Rosie barely has time to acclimatize when George Chin, a rather eccentric academic, arrives with an urgent request: find the bones of the notorious Ursula Cadence (a witch burned at the stake during one of the first witch hunts) and reunite her with her long-dead son. Rosie and Sam are thrown into a race against time to find the bones, save a young boy, and try not to drive each other bonkers in the process.
This story has everything: a smart, capable, funny protagonist; an interesting, twisty magical mystery; secret societies engaged in an age-old battle of good vs. evil; an enjoyable but not distracting romantic subplot; nascent magical abilities; and a really great cat named Hecate who's probably the most sensible out of everyone.
This was a deftly-woven tale of mystery, magic, and love and I had such a blast reading it. I've already added the next in the series, Strange Sight, to my to-read list: this is one of those series you hope goes on to span a good dozen books or more.
Provided by Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
Read more reviews like this at my blog!
Rosie barely has time to acclimatize when George Chin, a rather eccentric academic, arrives with an urgent request: find the bones of the notorious Ursula Cadence (a witch burned at the stake during one of the first witch hunts) and reunite her with her long-dead son. Rosie and Sam are thrown into a race against time to find the bones, save a young boy, and try not to drive each other bonkers in the process.
This story has everything: a smart, capable, funny protagonist; an interesting, twisty magical mystery; secret societies engaged in an age-old battle of good vs. evil; an enjoyable but not distracting romantic subplot; nascent magical abilities; and a really great cat named Hecate who's probably the most sensible out of everyone.
This was a deftly-woven tale of mystery, magic, and love and I had such a blast reading it. I've already added the next in the series, Strange Sight, to my to-read list: this is one of those series you hope goes on to span a good dozen books or more.
Provided by Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
Read more reviews like this at my blog!
June 3, 2019
When Rosie Strange's grandfather dies, she inherits the Essex Witch Museum. As she decides what exactly she is going to do with it, Rosie and the museum's curator, Sam Stone, are approached by a professor who has an odd request - to discover the whereabouts of the remains of a convicted witch from the 16thC, the bones of whom will help with the exorcism of a young boy who has been possessed. It's a tale loosely inspired by Ursula Kemp, a woman who was executed for witchcraft in 1582.
It took me a little while to get into the story as I didn't really take to the style of writing. It's told in a spoof-like way, somewhat 'tongue-in-cheek', which was at odds with the subject matter. Nonetheless, as I persevered I found that I was thoroughly enjoying the mystery and it ended up being quite a page turner! It's fast paced and very intriguing. It's a race against time type of plot. I loved all the little bits of interesting information, too. I did find Rosie a little irritating, though, and the 'will they, won't they' scenario between her and Sam grated. However, I got used to the banter between them by the end of the book.
A weirdly fun read which, after a rocky start, I had great trouble putting down! I look forward to reading the next book in the series, Strange Sight.
Reviewed for TBC on Facebook.
It took me a little while to get into the story as I didn't really take to the style of writing. It's told in a spoof-like way, somewhat 'tongue-in-cheek', which was at odds with the subject matter. Nonetheless, as I persevered I found that I was thoroughly enjoying the mystery and it ended up being quite a page turner! It's fast paced and very intriguing. It's a race against time type of plot. I loved all the little bits of interesting information, too. I did find Rosie a little irritating, though, and the 'will they, won't they' scenario between her and Sam grated. However, I got used to the banter between them by the end of the book.
A weirdly fun read which, after a rocky start, I had great trouble putting down! I look forward to reading the next book in the series, Strange Sight.
Reviewed for TBC on Facebook.
August 13, 2025
While this story was original and engaging, the characters felt far too clever and their banter too unrealistic. Most complete strangers don’t immediately start bickering life life-long schoolmates, nor do they run off on a potentially dangerous adventure together. There were some excellent magical elements, however, and the premise was worth an investment in the rest of the series.
August 12, 2017
Recap - Rosie Strange inherits her Grandfather's witch museum and on a visit to determine how best to shut it down & sell it she gets dragged into a witch hunt with curator Sam Stone. A little boys life hangs in the balance and a witches skeleton is the only cure.
Review - pacey, filled with interesting historical snippets, and the thrill of supernatural horror. I enjoyed all the witch hunt backstory and the theory that the Essex girl is the new hunted witch - interesting stuff. The hauntings, possession and exorcism were suitably spooky, atmospheric and bone chilling. The relationship between Strange and Stone however felt a little off, almost trying too hard to be a will they, won't they. First they flirted then they didn't, then they were, then they weren't. All a bit too YA for this book. The other part that didn't really work for me was the apparent ritual about to happen at Hades Hall with Lady Barbary et at, it felt rushed. It was a great angle to include and historically interesting but felt almost tacked onto the end.
I enjoyed reading this and I'm intrigued by the set up for the next adventure of Strange & Stone.
Review - pacey, filled with interesting historical snippets, and the thrill of supernatural horror. I enjoyed all the witch hunt backstory and the theory that the Essex girl is the new hunted witch - interesting stuff. The hauntings, possession and exorcism were suitably spooky, atmospheric and bone chilling. The relationship between Strange and Stone however felt a little off, almost trying too hard to be a will they, won't they. First they flirted then they didn't, then they were, then they weren't. All a bit too YA for this book. The other part that didn't really work for me was the apparent ritual about to happen at Hades Hall with Lady Barbary et at, it felt rushed. It was a great angle to include and historically interesting but felt almost tacked onto the end.
I enjoyed reading this and I'm intrigued by the set up for the next adventure of Strange & Stone.
December 23, 2017
An intriguing premise that grew more interesting as I progressed through the book, but marred by a protagonist and narrator I simply couldn't like. This was less to do with Rosie herself than the inner voice she had. It was too subtly and obviously chick lit when the subject matter of the book was more fantasy. Too many descriptions of what characters were wearing and a blatant and unsubtle attempt to show Rosie's attraction to Sam. She grew on me a bit over the course of the book but not enough to encourage me to read more of her adventures. This is a shame because the concept of the novel was interesting. I just wish it had been differently written.
October 17, 2017
OH MY GOD THE TYPOS!!!!!! also, realistic fantasy books have this tricky part where they have to transition the protagonist from not believing in magic/fearies/vampires/wereturtles etc to believing and interacting with them. in this book the author tries to have the protag still be a skeptic at the end, so for every damn mystical thing the protag makes some realistic explanation for it and it is awful. just distracting my awful. there are a number of other issues as well. however, it was entertaining enough that i finished it. so there ya go.
October 3, 2017
I read this AGES ago and totally forgot to write a review. All I remember is that I liked it. *lol*
January 20, 2025
2.5⭐️
August 7, 2018
High hopes for this but thought it was badly written, full of ableism, classism and fatphobia, and the main character takes pride in being a Benefit Fraud investigator/class traitor.
2 stars because I did learn a bit about the Essex Witch Trials.
2 stars because I did learn a bit about the Essex Witch Trials.
did-not-finish
March 29, 2020DNF:ing at page 85
I'm really not clicking with the writing or with Rosie. It tries to be witty and quirky but comes of as cringe and awkward. Lots of small info-dumps here and there and the writing has as case of tell-not-show. It's told in first person point of view, something I'm not fond of at all, because when it's done badly it's done badly and it's just awkward.
I'm bit sad I didn't like it because I adore the covers of this series and I like British urban fantasy.
I'm really not clicking with the writing or with Rosie. It tries to be witty and quirky but comes of as cringe and awkward. Lots of small info-dumps here and there and the writing has as case of tell-not-show. It's told in first person point of view, something I'm not fond of at all, because when it's done badly it's done badly and it's just awkward.
I'm bit sad I didn't like it because I adore the covers of this series and I like British urban fantasy.
December 29, 2024
Easy fantasy read. Entertaining, lightweight. Clearly intended to be the first of a series.
June 10, 2023
Great entertainment!
April 24, 2024
I wanted to like this book. I really, really, did. According to the summary on the back, it had many elements I'd really like; a strong female protagonist, history, the supernatural, and a mystery to tie it all together. I thought I'd really like it....but I didn't. Not at all.
Two major issues stand out. First and foremost, the main character, Rosie Strange, is a profoundly unlikeable character. She is supposed to be a subversion of the "Essex Girl" stereotype, which is a stereotype of a woman who is glamorous, of low intelligence, and promiscuous. (For us folks in the states, that's like a more well dressed version of the Jersey Shore stereotype). Rosie is certainly glamorous, but is rude, obnoxious, self absorbed, superficial (at one point, she reacts with horror to the idea that the male lead, her seeming love interest, might not drink alcohol) and seems to just dislike other people in general. Nothing in this character's demeanor makes you want to root for her, and it is a mystery why the male lead puts up with her at all.
The other major issue is the editing; it's a mess. The author has a habit of referring to characters by either their first or last names interchangably, even in subsequent sentances, making it hard to follow who is who. There are numerous typos and grammatical errors that break your stream of reading; as an example, a character makes a comment that is intended as a sort of social warning to another character; that comment is referred to as a "shot across the bough" (rather than "bow"). This sort of thing needs to get caught in the edit.
On a more positive note, there are some decent mystery sections, and some compelling local history from Essex that can keep you going. If you are more interested in English history of the Essex region, you might be able to enjoy something here. For me, Strange Magic has great potential as a premise, but the execution is very dissapointing. This half baked book needed more time to develop.
Guess I shouldn't judge a book by its cover.
Two major issues stand out. First and foremost, the main character, Rosie Strange, is a profoundly unlikeable character. She is supposed to be a subversion of the "Essex Girl" stereotype, which is a stereotype of a woman who is glamorous, of low intelligence, and promiscuous. (For us folks in the states, that's like a more well dressed version of the Jersey Shore stereotype). Rosie is certainly glamorous, but is rude, obnoxious, self absorbed, superficial (at one point, she reacts with horror to the idea that the male lead, her seeming love interest, might not drink alcohol) and seems to just dislike other people in general. Nothing in this character's demeanor makes you want to root for her, and it is a mystery why the male lead puts up with her at all.
The other major issue is the editing; it's a mess. The author has a habit of referring to characters by either their first or last names interchangably, even in subsequent sentances, making it hard to follow who is who. There are numerous typos and grammatical errors that break your stream of reading; as an example, a character makes a comment that is intended as a sort of social warning to another character; that comment is referred to as a "shot across the bough" (rather than "bow"). This sort of thing needs to get caught in the edit.
On a more positive note, there are some decent mystery sections, and some compelling local history from Essex that can keep you going. If you are more interested in English history of the Essex region, you might be able to enjoy something here. For me, Strange Magic has great potential as a premise, but the execution is very dissapointing. This half baked book needed more time to develop.
Guess I shouldn't judge a book by its cover.
April 21, 2017
This is a fun book that takes us on a tour of the South East of England as Rosie Strange and Sam go on a hunt for the missing bones of a 16th century witch. Rosie has inherited the Essex Witch museum from her late grandfather and skeptical of all things spooky and witchy has plans to sell before agreeing to find the missing witch bones to potentially save a young boys life.
There's not a great deal of mystery in it. It's a beach read for those of us that don't read chick-lit. It passes quite quietly as the two go off on what to me felt mostly like a road trip tale for the first half of the book kicking in then as the bad guys starting coming out of the woodwork and we get the intriguing MI6/ spy network joining in the chase.
I would have liked more on the bad guy (girl in this instance). She sounded actually really interesting and with a name like Elizabeth Bathory I was dying for them to bring in links about the namesake but sadly they didn't. But I did like the fact that despite being the bad guy she has no lines and is practically non-existent in the book. I want more!
It's fast paced, taking place over a few days. There's a lot of energy in the book. I enjoyed the characters. They guys have hidden depths and I'm looking forward to Rosie accepting her latent talents and working with them in future books. There's a lot of room for these characters to grow.
Overall a good book. Thumbs up :)
There's not a great deal of mystery in it. It's a beach read for those of us that don't read chick-lit. It passes quite quietly as the two go off on what to me felt mostly like a road trip tale for the first half of the book kicking in then as the bad guys starting coming out of the woodwork and we get the intriguing MI6/ spy network joining in the chase.
I would have liked more on the bad guy (girl in this instance). She sounded actually really interesting and with a name like Elizabeth Bathory I was dying for them to bring in links about the namesake but sadly they didn't. But I did like the fact that despite being the bad guy she has no lines and is practically non-existent in the book. I want more!
It's fast paced, taking place over a few days. There's a lot of energy in the book. I enjoyed the characters. They guys have hidden depths and I'm looking forward to Rosie accepting her latent talents and working with them in future books. There's a lot of room for these characters to grow.
Overall a good book. Thumbs up :)
February 5, 2017
"Just because things are strange, Rosie, doesn't mean they're not true." This sentence aptly sums up the premise of this new series from Sydney Moore. We first meet Rosie Strange as she travels to the Essex Witch Museum, which she has inherited from her estranged grandfather, Septimus Strange. As she wanders the moldy museum, she meets the semi-creepy caretaker Bronson and the handsome & quirky curator, Sam Stone. Soon she finds herself smack in the middle of an adventure in which she and Sam must acquire the bones of a witch dead for 400 years in order to save the life of a small boy possessed by the spirit of said witch's son.
Underneath the expected editing issues you typically find in an advanced reading copy is an entertaining plot and a budding chemistry between the likable Rosie and Sam, making this a series to watch. The introduction two-thirds into the story of the MI5 Occult Division (and the suave agent Monty) was a little jarring, but holds promise for the series. This will be a welcome addition to other "witchy" series like Juliet Blackwell's Lily Ivory books. Recommended.
Underneath the expected editing issues you typically find in an advanced reading copy is an entertaining plot and a budding chemistry between the likable Rosie and Sam, making this a series to watch. The introduction two-thirds into the story of the MI5 Occult Division (and the suave agent Monty) was a little jarring, but holds promise for the series. This will be a welcome addition to other "witchy" series like Juliet Blackwell's Lily Ivory books. Recommended.
August 9, 2023
Would someone who gives you the third book in a series knowing you haven't read the first two and am a wee bit OCD about reading books in order, be a friend or arch nemesis? It's a tough call, and after reading Book One, I'm leaning towards arch nemesis!
Story was ok. So far, am not a fan of the main character, Rosie Strange. She seems to spend most of the time complaining about men being sexist and misogynistic while being increasing lecherous and overtly sexual towards her male employee. And when those advances are ignored she gets sulky and drunk. It was very cringe-worthy and distracting from the story involving the madcap paranormal investigation. The most magical thing was their ability to drive across country and through London in the suggested time frames. There is NO WAY they were driving to Bocastle during Easter Holidays and didn't get stuck behind a conga line of caravans.
Personal rant aside, I've been told that it gets better in the next few books, hence the reason for the gift of Book Three. Either that or this "friend" is truly a diabolical evil villain.
Story was ok. So far, am not a fan of the main character, Rosie Strange. She seems to spend most of the time complaining about men being sexist and misogynistic while being increasing lecherous and overtly sexual towards her male employee. And when those advances are ignored she gets sulky and drunk. It was very cringe-worthy and distracting from the story involving the madcap paranormal investigation. The most magical thing was their ability to drive across country and through London in the suggested time frames. There is NO WAY they were driving to Bocastle during Easter Holidays and didn't get stuck behind a conga line of caravans.
Personal rant aside, I've been told that it gets better in the next few books, hence the reason for the gift of Book Three. Either that or this "friend" is truly a diabolical evil villain.
October 29, 2018
Rosie Strange inherits the Essex Witch Museum when her grandfather dies. Turning up to view the place with the intention of selling it, Rosie and Sam, the curator of the museum, get pulled into the mystery of the final resting place of Ursula Cadence, a woman accused of witchcraft and executed centuries ago.
The plot itself was interesting and I would have given if 4 stars, if not for the fact that I absolutely hated the main character. Rosie is a benefit fraud investigator, something that you are reminded of almost every chapter, and some of her comments and thoughts about others are frankly unacceptable. She seems to have an inflated sense of her own attractions yet views every other attractive woman who so much as glances at Sam as a slut. There is no chemistry between Rosie and Sam at all, no sense of what either would find particularly attractive about each other. Sam may be rather dull, but if I were him, I would be running as fast as I could in the other direction.
Rosie unfortunately spoils the whole book.
The plot itself was interesting and I would have given if 4 stars, if not for the fact that I absolutely hated the main character. Rosie is a benefit fraud investigator, something that you are reminded of almost every chapter, and some of her comments and thoughts about others are frankly unacceptable. She seems to have an inflated sense of her own attractions yet views every other attractive woman who so much as glances at Sam as a slut. There is no chemistry between Rosie and Sam at all, no sense of what either would find particularly attractive about each other. Sam may be rather dull, but if I were him, I would be running as fast as I could in the other direction.
Rosie unfortunately spoils the whole book.
January 20, 2024
*"On one side, new developments rubbed shoulders with weather-boarded cottages so old and tired they leant on each other untidily, like loose books on a shelf."*
Syd Moore, Strange Magic.
Rating-⭐⭐
I enjoy reading lesser known books because they usually have great plots which are not overused and are well executed. However, This novel was a total disappointed.
Rosie inherits The Essex Witch Museum from her grandfather his death. She plans to pocket the money after selling the museum. While exploring the museum, Rosie meets with the curator, Sam Stone. They get interrupted by Professor George Chin who wants them to find the remains of a women executed in the 15th century named Ursula Candence. Rosie initially refuses since she doesn't believe in such things however she changes her mind on hearing the commission. Sam and Rosie work together to find the remains of Ursula and bring it back for the greater good.
On hearing the plot the book seems interesting, however, it was so poorly executed. Random characters were introduced who had no relevance to the plot, writing wasn't the best and the relation between Rosie and Sam was confusing. So it's an love/hate thing however throughout the book they remain neutral and flirt extremely occasionally (that too in an extremely weird way.)
Rosie always seemed to notice Sam's physical appearance and not his personality. And I have zero idea how and when Sam starts to like Rosie.
There are sequels to this novel but I won't be reading them.
Not relavent to the review but I hated how Rosie seems to despise the subject history😭💔
Syd Moore, Strange Magic.
Rating-⭐⭐
I enjoy reading lesser known books because they usually have great plots which are not overused and are well executed. However, This novel was a total disappointed.
Rosie inherits The Essex Witch Museum from her grandfather his death. She plans to pocket the money after selling the museum. While exploring the museum, Rosie meets with the curator, Sam Stone. They get interrupted by Professor George Chin who wants them to find the remains of a women executed in the 15th century named Ursula Candence. Rosie initially refuses since she doesn't believe in such things however she changes her mind on hearing the commission. Sam and Rosie work together to find the remains of Ursula and bring it back for the greater good.
On hearing the plot the book seems interesting, however, it was so poorly executed. Random characters were introduced who had no relevance to the plot, writing wasn't the best and the relation between Rosie and Sam was confusing. So it's an love/hate thing however throughout the book they remain neutral and flirt extremely occasionally (that too in an extremely weird way.)
Rosie always seemed to notice Sam's physical appearance and not his personality. And I have zero idea how and when Sam starts to like Rosie.
There are sequels to this novel but I won't be reading them.
Not relavent to the review but I hated how Rosie seems to despise the subject history😭💔
March 6, 2019
Rosie Strange has just inherited the Essex Witch Museum, and he first inclination is to sell it and run for the hills. But on her first visit an academic shows up to demand that she and the curator, Sam Stone, search for the bones of Ursula Cadence, a witch put to death hundreds of years before.
Rosie agrees to help after they are offered money if they are successful. Finding herself and Sam embroiled in a most peculiar centuries-old mystery, Rosie is quickly expelled from her comfort zone, where to her horror, the secrets of the past come with their own real, and all too present, danger as a strange magic threatens to envelope them all.
I really enjoyed this story. Syd Moore has a nice, easy style of writing that flows along wonderfully and tells a tale the keeps the pages turning. Rosie and Sam are both strong characters, and they interact beautifully.
Ursula is also a great character, beautifully played and not overpowering. I have to admit this story is not what I expected, but it drew me in and kept me reading. There were a few scenes that sent tingles up my spine, with such subtle scariness that it made my mouth drop open. I enjoyed this book so much that I called the library as soon as I was finished and asked them to order the others in the series.
If you enjoy books with witches that can scare you from time to time, I suggest you pick up Strange Magic and start this wonderful series. It will leave you wanting to read more by this author.
Rosie agrees to help after they are offered money if they are successful. Finding herself and Sam embroiled in a most peculiar centuries-old mystery, Rosie is quickly expelled from her comfort zone, where to her horror, the secrets of the past come with their own real, and all too present, danger as a strange magic threatens to envelope them all.
I really enjoyed this story. Syd Moore has a nice, easy style of writing that flows along wonderfully and tells a tale the keeps the pages turning. Rosie and Sam are both strong characters, and they interact beautifully.
Ursula is also a great character, beautifully played and not overpowering. I have to admit this story is not what I expected, but it drew me in and kept me reading. There were a few scenes that sent tingles up my spine, with such subtle scariness that it made my mouth drop open. I enjoyed this book so much that I called the library as soon as I was finished and asked them to order the others in the series.
If you enjoy books with witches that can scare you from time to time, I suggest you pick up Strange Magic and start this wonderful series. It will leave you wanting to read more by this author.
July 11, 2022
Disclaimer: I read it properly until the 50% mark, then gave up and started skimming heavily.
Dialogues and writing style were OK, but the pace of the book could cure insomnia. 90% of the book is exposition. You can tell that the author actually cared a lot about the background and the historical facts that inspired the story, but the plot suffered for it.
Essentially every single character we encouter is only there to explain the next bit of the story, and nothing else. Literally. Soon they all start to blend until it feels like you're reading an encyclopedia.
The MC and love interest had 0 chemistry, mostly because all they do is exchange the aforementioned exposition or engage in "witty banter" - my personal nemesis, yet so overused in so many books.
I would comment on the villain but they are so irrelevant to the story I almost missed them in my second-half skimming.
2 stars because I can see the effort put into the book, but if I were scoring for enjoyment alone it would be a 1 star, and 5 cups of strong coffee.
Dialogues and writing style were OK, but the pace of the book could cure insomnia. 90% of the book is exposition. You can tell that the author actually cared a lot about the background and the historical facts that inspired the story, but the plot suffered for it.
Essentially every single character we encouter is only there to explain the next bit of the story, and nothing else. Literally. Soon they all start to blend until it feels like you're reading an encyclopedia.
The MC and love interest had 0 chemistry, mostly because all they do is exchange the aforementioned exposition or engage in "witty banter" - my personal nemesis, yet so overused in so many books.
I would comment on the villain but they are so irrelevant to the story I almost missed them in my second-half skimming.
2 stars because I can see the effort put into the book, but if I were scoring for enjoyment alone it would be a 1 star, and 5 cups of strong coffee.
December 10, 2025
1.5 stars - this one was not for me
I wanted to like this book, but after reading about 100 pages it was really hard to not DNF :( I skimmed the last half of the book. The author is clearly passionate and informed about the Essex witch trials but it quickly started to feel like a lot of infodumping. The information didn't feel like integrated into a plot, but an okay-ish plot was used to convey the information. It was a lot of tell instead of show: driving from place to place, getting some information from random characters and then moving on to the next. Because of this curator Sam also didn't really feel like an expert on the field to me.
Next to that I found Rosie and Sam characters both flat and very annoying. The romance between them extremely forced, there was zero chemistry and the hints of Rosie liking Sam where so randomly interjected it was just kind of weird. The plottwist came out of nowhere for me and made all the driving around for information they've been doing feel extra pointless.
I wanted to like this book, but after reading about 100 pages it was really hard to not DNF :( I skimmed the last half of the book. The author is clearly passionate and informed about the Essex witch trials but it quickly started to feel like a lot of infodumping. The information didn't feel like integrated into a plot, but an okay-ish plot was used to convey the information. It was a lot of tell instead of show: driving from place to place, getting some information from random characters and then moving on to the next. Because of this curator Sam also didn't really feel like an expert on the field to me.
Next to that I found Rosie and Sam characters both flat and very annoying. The romance between them extremely forced, there was zero chemistry and the hints of Rosie liking Sam where so randomly interjected it was just kind of weird. The plottwist came out of nowhere for me and made all the driving around for information they've been doing feel extra pointless.
August 21, 2017
The author has a sweeping and commanding sense of the history of witchcraft which is brought to life in this engaging tale, set in part in the past, and in part in the current day. It’s a fun cozy for people who like a good mystery and who also have a taste for the supernatural. Characters were affecting and believable.
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